Continuing our celebration of Arbor Day, here are 8 reasons that trees are good for the environment. After reading these reasons, hopefully you’ll be motivated to celebrate by planting trees in your community. From cleaning the air to cooling our cities, there is so much that trees do for us. Look in your community to see what you can get involved in. Many places have tree plantings or free trees.

1. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen and that cleans the air.
2. One tree produces nearly 26 pounds of oxygen a year.
3. An acre of trees removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide a year.
4. Shade trees save energy by making buildings cooler in the summer — up to 20 degrees cooler.
5. Trees provide protection from downward fall of rain, sleet, and hail as well as reduce storm run-off and the possibility of flooding. They prevent erosion of the soil.
6. Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife.
7. Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water, as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.
8. The death of one 70-year old tree would return over three tons of carbon to the atmosphere.

Google.org is doing some innovative things to help us save the environment. One way is to watch how much energy you save. Part of that is to strategically place trees to cut down on air conditioning your home needs in the summer.

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Tags: Environment

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